The Buzz: Toppers signs in Menasha

Toppers Pizza signed a lease for a portion of the former Anytime Fitness space in Menasha at 430 Third St., not far from the corner of Racine Street.

Construction will start in a few weeks and if all goes well "early November is our target opening," said Aaron Johnson, local Toppers franchise owner with Joe Kirschling.

The Toppers chain is based in Whitewater and has a strong carryout/delivery business that includes college students and those who are up late. It has both conventional pizzas and others topped with macaroni and cheese or tater tots with nacho cheese.

The partners have had a Toppers Pizza in the middle of downtown Appleton for more than six years, and Johnson said that branch is going well. They've since expanded with two locations in Green Bay and one in DePere.

"We get quite a few people from the Neenah-Menasha area coming up to Appleton to pick up food," Johnson said. "We get calls from people asking to extend the delivery range."

Appleton Toppers' delivery stops at State 441. From there south, it will be handled by the future Menasha branch.

Johnson even got a few requests for a Toppers in the Neenah/Menasha area from music fans attending the Mile of Music festival last week. Toppers had a red and white tent set up near the Houdini Plaza stage, and it sold nearly 1,400 slices over three days. "As fast as we were making them, we were selling them," he said.

After Menasha, Johnson said they have their eye on the Darboy/Little Chute/Kimberly area "if we find the perfect location."